The six British colonies of Australia united to form a federation in 1901, with those colonies becoming six autonomous state governments alongside a new Commonwealth federal government. There are also two self-governing territories.

Australia is a stable liberal democracy, with a long-standing commitment to democratic values, the rule of law and the separation of powers. Political violence is essentially absent. While Australia is a comparatively wealthy, a developed country with numerous social security entitlements for those in need, there is growing income inequality.1

Australia’s Constitution is contained in section 9 of an Act of the Imperial British Parliament (Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1901 (Imp)). Australia now is fully independent,2 although it remains a constitutional monarchy.